Earliest WC memory

[From Despair To Where?]

I had a Panini album for 1978 but can't remember anything of the tournament.

First proper footballing memory is Bryan Robson scoring against France after 27 seconds in 1982.

[Royalclapper]

^^^^Steve Coppell also involved in Robson's goal & the greatest ever England kit in the '82 WC.

http://youtu.be/6WbxYCe4AWw

[Hendo]

France 98, owen goal

*high 5*

[jd82]

Learnt all the flags for italia '90. Don't really remember the football that much though.

[Bandini]

Wilkins getting sent off in '86.

[UpThePrem]

78 final. I was 7. Mostly the ticker tape. Can't remember much more.

[East Grinstead Royal]

1974. I was 8 and so ignorant of football on TV (parents have a LOT to answer for…I am scarred) that I missed the final and was, instead, at the Garlands School (Burghfield Common) Summer Fete. I remain disappointed to this day.

Remember a lot about 78. The Ally's Army build up. Scotland v Holland in particular. Ari Haan's wonder strikes. The ticker tape in the stadia. Argentina walking the final.

another Garlands boy here.

Anyway, 1970 for me. England playing Brazil, Romania and Czechoslovakia Iirc

Pretty sure we played Uruguay rather than the Czechs, then of course West Germany in the Q/F.

[Green]

Presumably Germany effectively lost a vote and a seat at FIFA's world table when the nations (and teams) merged.

The exact reason the home nations don't want to combine supposedly - not that we have much influence in FIFA or even UEFA affairs these days anyway

[LUX]

1974. I was 8 and so ignorant of football on TV (parents have a LOT to answer for…I am scarred) that I missed the final and was, instead, at the Garlands School (Burghfield Common) Summer Fete. I remain disappointed to this day.

Remember a lot about 78. The Ally's Army build up. Scotland v Holland in particular. Ari Haan's wonder strikes. The ticker tape in the stadia. Argentina walking the final.

another Garlands boy here.

Anyway, 1970 for me. England playing Brazil, Romania and Czechoslovakia Iirc

Pretty sure we played Uruguay rather than the Czechs, then of course West Germany in the Q/F.

Just czeched and I'm right

[sputnik]

'74, Breitner's hairdo.

[Tommy Youlden's Ears]

Not my earliest, but really vivid is the moment Socrates' goal against Italy in 82 kicked that little puff of chalk dust from the line behind Zoff. Perfect.

None cooler than Brasil 82.

[Tommy Youlden's Ears]

I am now excited turned up to 11

[BraisingsteakRoyal]

Opening game of Italia '90. The sunset and shadows of the San Siro (?)

Francois Omam-Biyaks scrappy headed goal, and his brother getting sent off for being the third man in a series of three that tried their utmost to decapitate Claudio Cannigia (?) to deny him a goalscoring opportunity.

[Silver Fox]

Not my earliest, but really vivid is the moment Socrates' goal against Italy in 82 kicked that little puff of chalk dust from the line behind Zoff. Perfect.

None cooler than Brasil 82.

I fvcking love that goal and that team, it's part of their charm that they failed to win the cup I reckon

[Ascotexgunner]

74 for me. P*ssed with rain continuously I remember. East Germany v West Germany was a bit of a hot potato and everyone loved the Dutch.
It was crushing that the Germans won that. Also remember Brazil coming with a reputation and everyone was raving about Revelino, who was an absolute flop.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Not my earliest, but really vivid is the moment Socrates' goal against Italy in 82 kicked that little puff of chalk dust from the line behind Zoff. Perfect.

None cooler than Brasil 82.

I fvcking love that goal and that team, it's part of their charm that they failed to win the cup I reckon

+1, my favourite international team ever. Anyone else cut out the little article from Shoot magazine where Eder explained which bit of his foot he kicked the ball to make it swerve different ways? Limped back in from the garden 5mins later thinking I'd dislocated a couple of toes.

[Platypuss]

While I can remember stuff from 1978 (I was 8), it's hard to be sure that isn't just me remembering watching clips of it played years later.

So first definite memories are from 1982:
Gerry Armstrong for Norn Iron v Spain
Bryan Robson scoring in the first minute v France.
Schumacher v Battiston

[philM]

66

I was 11 and we didn't have a tv at home. Watched the game at a school friend's house in Glasgow. He had a cleft palate and we copied his voice incessantly. Can't remember his name, or much of the game, but remember the house and the room fairly well.

[Ian Royal]

Italia 90, England's draw with Ireland

[TFF]

'74 quaLOLifiers. Tomaszewski's ridiculous performance

One of my earliest memories of any kind actually. I was 5 and we watched it at my nan's.

Cheering for Scotland during '78. That goal. And yes, the ticker tape final.